Semi-automatic bookbinder

ABSTRACT

A bookbinding apparatus which permits economical operation over a wide range of book sizes and quantities and is particularly useful in central reproduction facilities. Pages are clamped in a carriage and edges aligned in a first angular position, the carriage is rotated to a second position for preheating, the pages automatically moved across a rotating drum, which applies hotmelt glue, to a cooling position. The carriage is then rotated back to the first side where tape may be applied to improve appearance.

United States Patent [1 1 Anderson 1451 Sept. 11, 1973 1 SEMI-AUTOMATIC BOOKBINDER [75] Inventor: Clarence 1.. Anderson, Pcnfield,

[73] Assignee: Magnamatrix Corporation,

Rochester, NY.

[22] Filed: Apr. 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 133,026

[52] US. Cl 118/59, 118/69, 118/202,

118/236, 118/238, 11/1 AD, 156/522 [51] Int. Cl. .1 B05c l/02, 1342c 9/02 [58] Field of Search 118/59, 236, 503,

118/238, 426, 244, 425, 69, 202; 1l/l AD; 156/322, 522; 134/82, 149, 161, 62, 134; 214/1465 [56] V References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 567,742 9/1896 Galicher 118/238 1,399,160 12/1921 Sevigne 118/59 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 378,287 7/1964 Switzerland ll/l AD 580,161 7/1959 Canada ll/l AD 926,199 5/1963 Great Britain. ll/l AD 1,411,004 10/1968 Germany ll/l AD Primary Examiner-John P. McIntosh Att0rney-John C. Altmiller [57] ABSTRACT A bookbinding apparatus which permits economical operation over a wide range of book sizes and quantities and is particularly useful in central reproduction facilities. Pages are clamped in a carriage and edges aligned in a first angular position, the carriage is rotated to a second position for preheating, the pages automatically moved across a rotating drum, which applies hotmelt glue, to a cooling position. The carriage is then rotated back to the first side where tape may be applied to improve appearance.

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AGENT SEMI-AUTOMATIC BOOKBINDER This invention relates to bookbinding in general and more particularly to a semi-automatic bookbinding apparatus.

When varioustypes of related printed matter are produced, it is normally desired to bind this matter into a book, magazine, pamphlet, etc. Such material may be what we normally think of as a book or magazine but may also be a report, proposal, manual, or similar sort of writing of which great numbers are produced by companies, universities, governments, etc. The form the binding takes may be anything from simple stapling of a few pages to the binding of a hard cover novel with many pages. Whatever the writing, it is always desirable to have a finished product which is securely bound and has an attractive appearance.

In the case of books which are produced in quantity, machinery is available which will allow good solid binding to be accomplished by utilizing hotmelt adhesives. Such machinery also normally includes means for cutting off edges to maintain good appearances. This type apparatus is, however, expensive and must be set up to do large jobs if it is to be used efficiently.

As previously mentioned, a large amount of binding is done by companies, universities, etc. Most large organizations of this type will have a central reproduction facility where reports and the like are reproduced and bound. Because the size and number of volumes to be bound varies, use of production machinery is not feasible. Thus, most binding is done with staples, spiral binders, or punched hole binders. None of these have the permanence of the binding of books which have been bound with a hotmelt adhesive. It is obvious to anyone who has used stapled, spiral bound or punched hole material that sheets are continually coming out or off when a slight pull is exerted. Such is normally not the case with well bound books.

The present invention seeks to overcome this deficiency in the materials bound in these central reproduction facilities by providing a hotmelt binding apparatus which will allow permanent binding of bound book quality to be achieved. Additional features of the apparatus provide for an improved appearance of the final material.

The object of this invention is to provide a hotmelt bookbinding apparatus.

Another object is to provide such an apparatus which will handle various sizes and quanitiies of material economically.

It is also an object to provide such an apparatus which includes additional features which will provide straight edges on the finished volume and means to easily place binding tape over the area where the hotmelt adhesive has been applied.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus which will be useful in central reproduction facilities.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view ofa preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is partially a side view in section and partially a schematic of the preferred embodiment showing the drive train;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clutches and linkages of the drive train of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6a is a top view of the cam and ratchets of FIG. 4 with both clutches disengaged;

FIG. 6b is a top view of the cam and ratchets of FIG. 4 with the forward drive clutch engaged; and

FIG. is a top view of the cam and ratchets of FIG. 4 with the reverse drive clutch engaged.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show top and side views of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus. A solid frame 11 provides support for the remaining parts of the machine. A solid fixed rod 13 runs the length of the machine and is supported on both ends by a portion of frame 11. Mountedon rod 13 is a carriage l5. Carriage 15 comprises two arms 17, a back plate 19 securely fastened to arms 17, a floating front plate 21 with portion 23 protruding to provide a f nger hold, an adjustable bar 25 mounted between arms, 17, and a spring 27 placed between bar 25 and plate 21. The arms 17 contain holes by which the carriage 15 may be mounted on, and supported by, rod 13. Suitable heating means, areprovided between the rod 13 and arms 17.

The carriage 15 provides a clamp in which to place the pages 29 to be bound. Bar 25 is adjusted by placing it in one of several slots provided (as determined by the thickness of pages 29). Spring 27 will then hold plate 21 in contact with pages 29 andthey will be effectively clamped. Finger hold 23 allows an operator to move plate 21 against the spring tension to insert and remove the pages.

Because of the manner of mounting on rod 13, carriage 15 is free to move the length of rod 13, and to rotate about rod 13 as shown by the are represented by dashed line 31. In the position shown, the pages 29 will rest on a vibrator 33. This is a standard type vibrator and is used to align the pages. The operator releases most of the clamp pressure by pressing finger hold 23 and activates the vibrator 33. When the pages 29 are aligned he will turn off the vibrator and release his hold. Instead of a vibrator, a flat plate may be used and the pages shaken manually to align them.

On the left side of FIG. 2 are a. glue pot 35, heated by heaters 37 and partially covered by a plate 39, a drum 41 in contact with gule 43 in. pot 35, a fan 45 and ducting 47. When pages 29 are rotated to the position shown in dotted lines the edgesto be bound will come to rest on plate 39 covering the glue pot 35. The glue pot 35 is heated by resistance heater 37 which is commercially available from companies such as Watlow Electrical Mfg. Co. of St. Louis, M0. The heater 37 will have a built-in thermostat to maintain a glue temperature of about 350 when using a hotmelt glue such as that manufactured by the Chemical Division of Borden, Inc. Of New York, N.Y. For other types of glue, heat would be adjusted to manufacturers specifications.

The heat from glue pot 35 will heat plate 39 and thus the edges of pages 29 will be preheated when placed in FIG. 5 is a front view of the cam and ratchets of FIG.

contact with it (preheating improves glue flow and thus assures a better bind). Drum 41 has an integral shaft 53 which is supported in suitable bearing means by the sides of pot 35 and is in contact with the melted glue. The drum 41 is caused to rotate by a belt 49 in contact with a pulley 51 secured to shaft 53. The belt 49 is driven by a pulley 55 connected to a motor 57.

Upon completion of preheating of pages 29 on plate 39, carriage is moved to the opposite end of rod 13 causing the edges of pages 29 to pass over rotating drum 41 which will apply the hotmelt adhesive 43 to beind them together. This movement may be done by hand but is preferably doen automatically (in a manner to be described below) to obtain a uniform glue deposit. The required rotation speed of drum 43 will depend on the speed at which pages 29 are moved across it. For example, a rotation speed of 350 rpm has been found to work well with a page movement rate of 7 inlsec. After moving across drum 43, pages 29 will come to rest over duct 47. Fan 45, which is a standard muffin fan, then cools and sets the adhesive. (Cooling without a fan is possible but takes much longer.) After cooling pages 29, now bound, may be rotated along with carriage 15 to a position adjacent to binding tape 59 mounted on a reel 61. Tape 59 may then be placed over the bound edge of the pages 29 to improve their appearance. The finished volume may then be removed and carriage 15 returned to the position shown on the FIGS. to accept a new set of pages 29. A glue dispenser 63 is provided to replenish the glue supply as it is used up. Glue may be added by manually opening a valve between pot 35 and dispenser 63 or by automatic means such as a float valve.

FIG. 3 shows the means of driving the carriage 15. Motor 57 has a second pulley 71 which by means of belt 73 drives a pulley 75 on shaft 77 which is supported, in suitable bearing means, by the frame 11. On the end of shaft 77 is a gear 79 which meshes with an identical gear 81 mounted on a shaft 83, supported in a manner similar to shaft 77. This will provide two shafts turning at the same speed in opposite directions.

Each shaft is attached to a clutch 85. Clutches 85 are controlled by blocks 87 shown at each end of rod 13. These blocks represent means to sense the end of travel of carriage l5 and operator controls. For example, if clutches 85 are of the electromagnetic type, block 87 will comprise micro switches and pushbuttons to stop and start carriagemotion. A mechanical arrangement which performs the same function will be described below.

From the clutches 85 two shafts 89 and 91 are inputs to a differential 93. Also provided are mechanical or electrical connections from clutches 85 to differential 93 shown as dotted lines 95 which will operate detents to preventunwanted gear movement in the differential. The output of differential 93 iscoupled to a pulley 97 which drives a belt 99 which in turn drives another pulley 101 mounted on a shaft 103 located near one end of rod 13. Shaft 103 is supported by frame 11. Mounted on the same shaft is sprocket 105. A second sprocket 107 is similarly-mounted on a shaft 109 at the other end of rod 13 and a chain lllinstalled between the two sprockets. A U-shaped bracket 112 is mounted on rod 13,'in suitable bearing means, between the two arms 17. Bracket 112 is securely fastened to chain 111.

' -To operate the bookbinder, the operator will initiate a'start command at block 87. The one of clutches 85 which will cause the bracket 111 to move forward toward sprocket 107 will be engaged and chain 111 will be driven, through the mechanical linkages, causing bracket 112 to push arm 17 and thus the carriage. When the end is reached, sensing means at block 87 will cause the clutch to disengage. To return the carriage to the starting position the other of clutches is operated in a similar manner.

FIG. 4 shows in detail a mechanical clutch and mechanisms to operate it. The clutches 85 are spring type clutches well known in the art. In each case the spring 114 is firmly attached to one shaft at point 115 (e.g., to shafts 89 or 91). If the other side of spring 114 on shaft 77 or 83 is unattached, shaft motion in the proper direction will cause the spring to tighten and thus drive the output shaft. However, if means are provided to selectively cause the spring to not be able to tighten, a controllable clutch will result. To accomplish this the springs are attached to ratchet wheels 117 which are free to rotate on shafts 77 and 83. If the wheels 117 are kept from moving spring 114 cannot tighten and the clutch will be disengaged. If the wheels are allowed to turn the spring will tighten and the clutch will engage. To control wheels 117 a cam 119 is mounted on the end of a shaft 121 which is connected through linkages 123 to two more shafts 125. Rotation of any one of the three shafts 125 or 121 will cause the other two to take the same angular position. On the top of rods 125 are control means 87, in the form of handles. Also connected to linkage 123 is a linkage 127 which will operate detent rods 95.

FIGS. 5, 6a, 6b and 6c illustrate the operation of cam 119 and wheels 117. In FIG. 5 cam 119 is shown keeping both wheels 117 from turning and thus keeping both clutches disengaged. This is the same condition that is shown in FIG. 6a. Both handles 87 will be perpendicular to rod 13 in FIG. 4 and both clutches disengaged. The rods 95 will cause both input gears in the differential to be stopped from turning.

To initiate operation toward the opposite end from that shown, handle 87 will be moved to the position shown in FIG. 6b. This will allow shaft 89 of FIG. 4 to turn and drive the carriage as described in connection with FIg. 3. When arm 17 reaches the other end of rod 13 it will push handle 87 back to the position of FIG. 6a and stop the drive. At the time handle 87 is turned the detent rod 95 associated with the gear of the differential turned by shaft 89 will be removed by operation of linkage 127 of FIG. 4.

To return the carriage to the position shown on FIGS. 3 and 4, handle 87 is turned to the position shown in FIG. 60 engaging the other clutch and driving shaft 91 which is turning in the opposite direction. The other of rods 95 will now be retracted to allow the gear associated with shaft 91 to turn. Again, on reaching the end of travel, arm 17 will restore handle 87 to the position of FIG. 6a.

Support of the linkages, shafts and rods has not been shown in detail as methods of supporting such mechanisms are well known inthe art. By using these simple mechanical components and linkages an easily controlled by-directional drive for the carriage has been provided.

.Thus a bookbinding machine which is particularly useful in central reproduction facilities has been shown. By providing simple means to align the pages, preheating to insure good flow of glue, automatic means to drive the pages across the glue applying mechanism to insure evenness, cooling means to speed setting of the glue and means to readily apply tape to improve the appearance of the finished book, a lowcost machine which economically produces strong and attractive books has been disclosed.

What is claimed is:

l. Bookbinding apparatus comprising:

a. a carriage with means to clamp the pages in aligned, superposed relation adjacent the edges to be bound;

b. a fixed rod supporting said carriage for rotation about said rod between first and second angular positions and movement along said rod; and

c. glue application means arranged so that movement of said carriage, when in said second amgular position, along the length of said rod will cause glue to 1 be applied to said edges.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said clamping means comprise:

a. a fixed plate;

b. a movable plate;

c. an adjustable bracket;

(1. a spring between said bracket and said movable plate biasing said movable plate toward said fixed plate.

3. The invention according to claim 1 and further including means, operable with said carriage in said first angular position at a first end of said rod, to align the outside edges of said pages.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said means to align comprises a vibrator with a flat top.

5. The invention according to claim 1 and further including means, usable when said carriage is in said first angular position at a second end of said rod, to supply tape to be placed on said edges after binding.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said supply means comprise a roll of tape mounted on a rotatable reel located in proximity to said second end of said rod.

7. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said glue application means comprise:

a. a glue pot partially filled with glue; and

b. a rotating drum supported by said pot and partially immersed in the glue in said pot, the axis of said drum being transverse to the direction of movement of said carriage along said rod and the periphery of said drum being so located that movement along said rod will cause said edges to come into contact with said glue.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said glue is of a type which must be heated and further including means to heat said glue.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said glue pot is longer than said edges and is partially covered with a plate receiving heat from said heating meansand which said edges contact when said carriage is in said second angular position at a first end of said rod, whereby said edges will be heated by said contact.

10. The invention according to claim 9 and further including glue dispenser means by which said glue may be replenished.

11. The invention according to claim 9 and further including cooling means at a second end of said rod by which said hotmelt glue may be cooled and set after said edges pass over said drum.

LII

12. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said cooling means comprise a fan and ducting to direct the air from said fan to said edges.

13. The invention according to claim 1 and further including bi-directional drive means to drive said carriage between first and second ends of said rod.

14. The invention according to claim 13 and further including manually operable means to initiate and stop said drive means, and automatic means to stop said drive means when said carriage is at said first or said second end of said rod.

15. The invention according to claim 14 wherein said drive means comprise:

a an electrical motor;

b. a first input shaft driven in a first rotational direction by said motor;

c. a second input shaft driven in. a second rotational direction by said first shaft through gearing;

d. a differential having an output connected by linking means to said carriage;

e. first and second output shafts connected as inputs to said differential;

f. first and second clutches connected on one side to said first and second input shafts and on said other side to said first and second output shafts, said clutches controlled by said manual and automatic means; and

g. detents operable to prevent motion of the input gears of said differential which are connected to an output shaft whose associated clutch is not engaged.

16. The invention according to claim 15 wherein said motor also drivessaid glue application means.

17. The invention according to claim 15 wherein said linking means comprise:

a. a first pulley connected to the output shaft of said differential;

b. a second pulley mounted on a rotatable shaft near the first end of said rod;

c. a belt connecting said pulleys;

d. a first sprocket mounted on said shaft;

e. a second sprocket mounted on another rotatable shaft near the second end of said rod;

f. a chain connecting said sprockets; and

g. a bracket supported on said rod and secured to said chain and located so that motion of said bracket along said rod will move said carriage.

18. The invention according to claim 15 wherein said clutches comprise first and second springs securely fastened on one end to said first and second output shafts and on the other end to first and second ratchet wheels rotatable on said first and second input shafts and wherein said manual and automatic means comprise rods located near said first and second ends of said rod linked together and to a third rod having mounted thereon a cam which when rotated to first, second and third positions will respectively prevent said first, said second, and said first and second sprocket wheels from turning, said rods containing handles which maybe manually rotated to position said cam and arranged so that driving of said carriage to either end of said rod will cause said carriage when reaching said end. to rotate said rods to said third position.

19. Bookbinding apparatus comprising:

a. a carriage with means to clamp the pages in aligned, superposed relation adjacent the edges to be bound;

b. a fixed rod supporting said carriage for rotation about said rod between first and second angular positions and movement along said rod between a first end position at one end and a second position at the other end of said rod;

0. page alignment means operable on said pages when said carriage is in said first angular position at said first end of said rod;

d. preheating means operable on said edges when said carriage is in said second angular position at said first end of said rod;

e. bi-directional drive means to drive said carriage between said first end and said second end of said rod;

f. glue application means located between said first and second ends of said rod and operable on said edges when they are driven between said ends with said carriage in said second angular position;

g. cooling means operable on said edges when said carriage is in said second angular position at said second end of said rod; and

h. tape dispensing means located to permit convenient and even application of tape to the bound edge of said pages when said carriage is in said first angular position at said second end of said rod. 

1. Bookbinding apparatus comprising: a. a carriage with means to clamp the pages in aligned, superposed relation adjacent the edges to be bound; b. a fixed rod supporting said carriage for rotation about said rod between first and second angular positions and movement along said rod; and c. glue application means arranged so that movement of said carriage, when in said second amgular position, along the length of said rod will cause glue to be applied to said edges.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said clamping means comprise: a. a fixed plate; b. a movable plate; c. an adjustable bracket; d. a spring between said bracket and said movable plate biasing said movable plate toward said fixed plate.
 3. ThE invention according to claim 1 and further including means, operable with said carriage in said first angular position at a first end of said rod, to align the outside edges of said pages.
 4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said means to align comprises a vibrator with a flat top.
 5. The invention according to claim 1 and further including means, usable when said carriage is in said first angular position at a second end of said rod, to supply tape to be placed on said edges after binding.
 6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said supply means comprise a roll of tape mounted on a rotatable reel located in proximity to said second end of said rod.
 7. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said glue application means comprise: a. a glue pot partially filled with glue; and b. a rotating drum supported by said pot and partially immersed in the glue in said pot, the axis of said drum being transverse to the direction of movement of said carriage along said rod and the periphery of said drum being so located that movement along said rod will cause said edges to come into contact with said glue.
 8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said glue is of a type which must be heated and further including means to heat said glue.
 9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said glue pot is longer than said edges and is partially covered with a plate receiving heat from said heating means and which said edges contact when said carriage is in said second angular position at a first end of said rod, whereby said edges will be heated by said contact.
 10. The invention according to claim 9 and further including glue dispenser means by which said glue may be replenished.
 11. The invention according to claim 9 and further including cooling means at a second end of said rod by which said hotmelt glue may be cooled and set after said edges pass over said drum.
 12. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said cooling means comprise a fan and ducting to direct the air from said fan to said edges.
 13. The invention according to claim 1 and further including bi-directional drive means to drive said carriage between first and second ends of said rod.
 14. The invention according to claim 13 and further including manually operable means to initiate and stop said drive means, and automatic means to stop said drive means when said carriage is at said first or said second end of said rod.
 15. The invention according to claim 14 wherein said drive means comprise: a. an electrical motor; b. a first input shaft driven in a first rotational direction by said motor; c. a second input shaft driven in a second rotational direction by said first shaft through gearing; d. a differential having an output connected by linking means to said carriage; e. first and second output shafts connected as inputs to said differential; f. first and second clutches connected on one side to said first and second input shafts and on said other side to said first and second output shafts, said clutches controlled by said manual and automatic means; and g. detents operable to prevent motion of the input gears of said differential which are connected to an output shaft whose associated clutch is not engaged.
 16. The invention according to claim 15 wherein said motor also drives said glue application means.
 17. The invention according to claim 15 wherein said linking means comprise: a. a first pulley connected to the output shaft of said differential; b. a second pulley mounted on a rotatable shaft near the first end of said rod; c. a belt connecting said pulleys; d. a first sprocket mounted on said shaft; e. a second sprocket mounted on another rotatable shaft near the second end of said rod; f. a chain connecting said sprockets; and g. a bracket supported on said rod and secured to said chain and located so that motion of said bracket along said rod will move said carriage.
 18. The invention according to claim 15 wherein said clutches comprise first and second springs securely fastened on one end to said first and second output shafts and on the other end to first and second ratchet wheels rotatable on said first and second input shafts and wherein said manual and automatic means comprise rods located near said first and second ends of said rod linked together and to a third rod having mounted thereon a cam which when rotated to first, second and third positions will respectively prevent said first, said second, and said first and second sprocket wheels from turning, said rods containing handles which may be manually rotated to position said cam and arranged so that driving of said carriage to either end of said rod will cause said carriage when reaching said end to rotate said rods to said third position.
 19. Bookbinding apparatus comprising: a. a carriage with means to clamp the pages in aligned, superposed relation adjacent the edges to be bound; b. a fixed rod supporting said carriage for rotation about said rod between first and second angular positions and movement along said rod between a first end position at one end and a second position at the other end of said rod; c. page alignment means operable on said pages when said carriage is in said first angular position at said first end of said rod; d. preheating means operable on said edges when said carriage is in said second angular position at said first end of said rod; e. bi-directional drive means to drive said carriage between said first end and said second end of said rod; f. glue application means located between said first and second ends of said rod and operable on said edges when they are driven between said ends with said carriage in said second angular position; g. cooling means operable on said edges when said carriage is in said second angular position at said second end of said rod; and h. tape dispensing means located to permit convenient and even application of tape to the bound edge of said pages when said carriage is in said first angular position at said second end of said rod. 